The first three documents are
required for all types of residency in
Costa Rica.
1. Police Certificate of Good
Conduct from your last place of
residency. Valid for 6 months. Required
for applicant, spouse, and any children
aged 18 to 25.
2. Birth Certificate. Required
for applicant, spouse, and all dependent
children (up to 18 years old or up to 25
if a university student - proof of
enrollment is required).
3. Marriage Certificate (if
spouse wishes residency). Proof of
divorce is not needed.
4. Income Certificate for
Pensionado and Rentista
Residency (required for only the
applicant).
Pensionados -proof of
a pension of at least US$600/month
stating that it is for life, and
that it will be paid in Costa Rica.
For pensions from the U.S. Social
Security or Canada Pension, it is
easier to obtain the certification
at the U.S. or Canadian Embassy in
Costa Rica. (You must provide them
with proof of your pension.)
Pensions from other government
agencies (all countries) must have a
letter stating that the pension is
paid by the government.
Pensions from other institutions
must have a statement verifying the
type of institution paying the
pension.
Rentista Residency -
contact the ARCR for wording of
documents.
All The Above Residency Documents
(other than those obtained in Costa
Rica) MUST BE:
a) Notarized by a local notary
public if they do not have an
official government seal. If in
doubt about the need to have it
notarized, check with the local
Costa Rican consulate.
b)
Authenticated by the
Costa Rican
consulate
in the country where the document
was issued.
Notarization: Your signature must
NOT appear in the notarization of the
document.
Authentication: A Costa Rican
consulate will charge US$40 for
authentication of each document. They
must affix stamps worth that amount to
collect the money. If they do not have
the stamps, the ARCR can buy them in
Costa Rica on your behalf.
Other requirements for both
Pensionado and Rentista
Residency
1) Income must be changed into
colones at a government bank or
an approved private bank in
Costa Rica
Pensionado $7200 per year
Rentista $12,000 per year
2) Physical presence in Costa
Rica for a minimum of 4 months
each year
3) Renewal of residency
identification card (carnet)
every two years. The government
of Costa Rica charges a US$100
tax for each renewed
identification card.
4) You and your dependents
cannot earn a salary or supplant
a Costa Rican in a work
situation. You can own and
operate a business and pay
yourself, and/or make
investments.
All pensionados and
rentistas must submit
proof of 1 and 2 above to
the Costa Rican government
each year. The ARCR assists
members with all the above
procedures.
Inversionista Residency Status
1). Invest at least US$50,000
with an approved organization in
a field such as tourism or
export businesses; US$100,000 in
a reforestation project; or
US$200,000 in another type of
business.
2). Visit Costa Rica at least
six months per year.
Translations from other languages to
Spanish have to be done either by the
Costa Rican consulate (no one else) in
the country where the document was
issued or here in Costa Rica by an
"official" translator for the specific
language to Spanish. Here we can arrange
for the services of a translator at the
cost of the member. Translation from the
original language to English is not
accepted by the Costa Rica government.
There really is
no need for reading all the conflicting
versions of the rules and how to do it
and where to go.
Part of our
service on our Property
Tour
is to guide you through the process and
with the right introduce you to the
right people so as not to waste your
time and in the end, get it done.
We are totally committed to client care
Excellence in every aspect.
